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Those associated with the film fraternity
in Pakistan were dealt with a huge blow when legendary actress and
veteran director Shamim Ara died at the age of 78 in London. She had
been inactive since the turn of the new millennium but it was her
efforts in the 80s and 90s that saw many film-makers turn towards the
film industry, leading to the revival of the day.

Shamim Ara didn’t hail from a showbiz family; in fact
she was known as Putli Bai until she became Shamim Ara in her teens. Her
career began in 1958 with Kunwari Bewa but she was first noticed as
Noor Jehan’s sister in Anarkali. From there onwards, there was no
stopping the innocent looking girl who would go on to create history by
turning first into a film producer, and later a director. She continued
to actively participate in film-making till 1999 and bowed out with Pal
Do Pal which was incidentally the last film of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan as a music composer.

HER ROLES

For those who have followed films of the yesteryear,
the name Shamim Ara stands for quality. Be it the role of the damsel in
distress in Saheli, the tawaif who refused to bow down to the dacoit in
Aag Ka Darya, the woman who couldn’t marry her love in Doraha, the lady
who became a singer after being lost when young in Saalgirah or the
twin sisters who were used intelligently by her corrupt uncle in
Humraaz, whenever Shamim Ara took on a role, she was on a roll. Even in
the final years of her career as a leading lady, she took the bold roles
such as the blackmailed wife in Suhaag as well as the woman accused of
having an affair with her dewar in Angaaray.

HER LEADING MEN!

Nearly all the actors from the 60s and 70s had the
chance to work with one of the most established actress of our times.
Shamim Ara was senior to most of her leading men including Mohammad Ali,
Waheed Murad and Nadeem, yet she appeared to be at ease with all of
them. She showed her versatility by working opposite Syed Kamal in
multiple films before newcomers took the stage; only she could have
shouted “Daku” in reply to “Tawaif” that too in front of Mohammad Ali;
only she could have looked good as the confused woman in Hill Station in
front of not one, but two Waheed Murads or danced for Suhdir playing
her ‘Akbar Khana’ in Farangi. She also romanced Santosh Kumar, Darpan
and Habib on-screen and was one of the few actresses to have worked with
Zia Mohyeddin in films – they were paired together in Suhaag where
Nadeem donned a moustache to play the antagonist.

HER CONTEMPORARIES

Shamim Ara managed to make a place for herself in a
galaxy of stars – not only was Madam Noor Jehan active as an actress in
those days but Nayyar Sultana, Sabiha Khanum and Musarrat Nazir were
also making a name for themselves. With her innocent smile and good
looks, Shamim Ara managed to bag roles that required a young girl and
managed to impress all with her acting skills. That’s the reason why she
didn’t look old even in the 70s when she was paired opposite Zia
Mohyeddin (Suhaag) or asked to play as an elder sister to newcomers like
Nisho (Angaaray).

THE GIANT LEAP!

At a time when female producers and directors were
unheard of, Baji Shamim as she was known to all, decided to take the
giant step and become a producer with Saiqa that was based on Razia
Butt’s novel of the same name. She also produced a couple of movies and
later turned to direction with Geo Aur Jeenay Do which didn’t do well
but established her as one of the few leading ladies-turned-director.
Playboy came next and became a huge hit thanks to its excellent cast and
memorable songs; it was followed by countless flicks including Miss
Colombo, Miss Hong Kong, Miss Singapore, Miss Bangkok, Lady Smuggler and
Lady Commando. The specialty of these films were her association with
Babra Sharif who was presented as an action hero(ine) rather than a
damsel in distress.

… THE REVIVAL

In the 90s when Pakistan’s film industry was at rock
bottom, it was Shamim Ara who laid the foundation for the revival. Not
only did she buy the copyrights of Sajjad Ali’s Babia for Haathi Mere
Saathi (to get the attention of potential cinegoers) but also gave
full-fledged roles to Bollywood-returned Mohsin Khan, TV-import Jan
Rambo (Afzal Khan) and Sahiba, daughter of her one-time co-star Nisho.
If the early 90s belonged to Beta and Hum To Chalay Susral, she bounced
back in the mid-90s with the star-studded Aakhri Mujra (Jawed Sheikh,
Neeli, Reema, Shaan, Behroze Sabzwari) and Munda Bigra Jaye (which went
on to become the biggest hit of the 90s). These flicks were followed by
multi-starrers Love 95 and Miss Istanbul (Lollywood version of Pretty
Woman) while Pal Do Pal, which turned out to be her swansong, had
Moammar Rana and Resham dancing to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s compositions.

HER LEGACY

The first time Shamim Ara won a Nigar Award was for
Saheli in which she played a supporting role, hence the trophy for best
supporting actress. She got her best actress awards for Farangi, Naila,
Lakhon Main Aik, and Saiqa – all between1964 and 1968 – her top years as
an actress. She received back-to-back Nigar Awards in 1993 and 1994, as
well as for the best director for her flicks Haathi Mere Saathi and
Aakhri Mujra while was awarded a Special Award the same year by the
Nigar people for her services to the Pakistan film industry. Shamim Ara
proved to be a role model for the upcoming generation as most of the
actresses who followed her copied her style to become successful. But
there was only one Shamim Ara and there will only be one Shamim Ara